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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

For a slight change of pace here are the beginnings of a small Mechanicus force for our Epic 30K campaigns.

I've been a big fan of Epic since its first inception as 'Adeptus Titanicus' way back in 1988. The 4th edition of the rules 'Epic: Armageddon' is perhaps the best version, with easy to understand rules providing a quick enjoyable game (though I still feel a little nostalgia for the mental, highly-detailed 2nd edition).

In the Warhammer 30k/40K universe the Adeptus Mechanicus is a technological organization, often known as the Priesthood of Mars. It holds a monopoly on technological knowledge in the Imperium. Their factory worlds, know as Forge Worlds, turn out the Imperium's most powerful and advanced weaponry and equipment. The organization's adepts, the Tech-priests, are vital in maintaining much of the Imperium's more technologically advanced equipment, particularly the wargear of the Adeptus Astartes, the Space Marines. They are a parallel organization to the Imperium of Man, separate yet sympathetic, and even possess their own religion, based around a Machine God an 'Omnisiah'.

Riffing on the baroque esthetic, I thought a corresponding red, steel and brass paintjob was in order.

Triaros Armoured Conveyors

Thallax Infantry with a Tech-Priest

Usarax close assault Infantry

'Falchion' War Engine

Small but still hefty.

I have a few more of these to finish off and will report when they are done (don't worry, there are definitely some 'larger bits' in the works...).

Also, as a new addition to the hobby room, I recently purchased a 3D printer kit. I've been fascinated by the technology every since it first emerged and with prices finally coming within reach I thought I'd take the plunge.

Yes, that glass was filled and emptied several times during the build...

With about an hour a night, the kit took me a week to assemble. Huge credit for this goes to my friend Byron, who came for a weekend visit and helped me with the final wiring and calibration. (Thanks again Byron!)

I have to say that no matter what the promotional literature and advertising may tell you, the technology is not yet matured for the mainline consumer - not yet. From what I've come to understand from working (wrestling) with mine is that these printers are very fiddly and prone to repeated breakdowns/recalibrations. There are a multitude of things that can go wrong and many of the issues just can't be anticipated. Things happen. BUT with all this being said, when it works it's truly AMAZING. I can't get over the rush of simply 'printing' a 3 dimensional object in my own home. It's just so darned cool.

Anyway, to close the post, here are a few samples of the things that I've printed off since we assembled the machine.

A 1:4800 scale model of Helm's Deep.

1:4800 scale Helm's Deep

A 1:600 model of architect Le Corbusier's 'La Savoye' (now one of France's World Heritage buildings)